True Bearing Chartered Financial Planners, are pleased to announce that that they have become an accredited Living Wage employer.

The Living Wage commitment will see everyone working at True Bearing, regardless of whether they are permanent employees or third-party contractors and suppliers; receive a minimum hourly wage of £7.85 -significantly higher than the national minimum wage of £6.70.

The Living Wage is an hourly rate set independently and updated annually. The Living Wage is calculated according to the basic cost of living using the ‘Minimum Income Standard’ for the UK. Decisions about what to include in this standard are set by the public; it is a social consensus about what people need to make ends meet.

True Bearing were one of the first IFAs in the UK to receive the Gold Standard Investors in People award and gained Corporate Chartered Status in 2010, standing in the top 4% of the country’s IFA Firms by qualification. The Living Wage accreditation allows the business to continue its commitment to invest in its people.

Managing Director, Susan Peary, commented, “This is a really proud moment for the company. We believe we are one of the first Chartered Financial Advisory Firms in the North West to achieve this accreditation, and as such are delighted to be leading the way again.

“When the business was formed in 2003, our aim was always to deliver a first class service to our clients. That includes investing in not only our business but also in our staff. I am a firm believer in that staff are your greatest asset. They are ambassadors for our business and deserve the very best we can offer.

“We value our staff and the Living Wage accreditation is just one way of demonstrating this.”

Employers choose to pay the Living Wage on a voluntary basis. The Living Wage enjoys cross party support, with public backing from the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition.

Living Wage Foundation Director, Sarah Vero, Director said: “We are delighted to welcome True Bearing to the Living Wage movement as an accredited employer.

“The best employers are voluntarily signing up to pay the Living Wage now. The Living Wage is a robust calculation that reflects the real cost of living, rewarding a hard day’s work with a fair day’s pay. We have accredited over 1900 leading employers, including True Bearing, ranging from independent printers, hairdressers and breweries, to well-known companies such as British Gas, Aviva and SSE. These businesses recognise that clinging to the national minimum wage is not good for business. Customers expect better than that.”